complete verse (Joshua 8:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 8:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the soldiers who had hidden themselves, saw Joshua stretching out his hand, they immediately went out from where they were hiding. They went inside the city, took it and burned it right away.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As soon as he did this the soldiers that had been hiding got up from their place and advanced. They went into the city, defeated it and took it. Then they quickly set it on fire.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When he did this, his men who were-waiting/were-besieging by the city came-out. They entered and took-by-forced/captured the city and quickly burned (it).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When the Israeli men who were hiding saw that, they rushed out from the places where they were hiding and ran into the city. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 8:18 - 8:19

The spear that Joshua points at the city is more precisely a “javelin” (An American Translation, Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), which is a smaller weapon; Gray defines it as a weapon that is thrown, not thrust; Soggin says that in the Qumran literature it means “sword” (so Bible de Jérusalem). He keeps his weapon pointed toward Ai until the destruction and slaughter are complete (verse 26). So this is not just a signal for the troops lying in ambush but a gesture whereby the Lord enables his people to win (see Moses at the battle of Rephidim, Exo 17.11-13).

In the statement I am giving it to you the pronoun “it” refers back to Ai of the previous clause. It is possible, however, that the reader might take this to mean the spear. It may therefore be helpful to translate “I am giving the city to you.” Or it may be expressed, “I am placing the city in your power,” by which “in your power” substitutes for “in your hand” of the Hebrew (see Revised Standard Version).

Joshua did as he was told may be translated with even more brevity (“Joshua did it”) or more explicitness (“Joshua pointed his spear at the city”). One may also translate “Joshua did what the LORD told him to do.”

Verse 19 either assumes or narrates six separate events. Although these events are described in an orderly manner, it may be to the readers’ advantage if a new sentence is used to begin the verse. Moreover, depending upon the expectations of the receptor language, the verse allows itself to be broken into sentence units at various places. For example, “The men who had been hiding saw Joshua lift up his spear. So they immediately got up and ran into the city. They captured the city and quickly set it on fire.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:19

8:19a-b

Scholars disagree about whether Joshua pointed his javelin toward Ai as a signal to the men who were hiding, or as a symbol of God’s action in defeating the town. It seems likely that it served both functions. It signaled the troops to advance, and it symbolized God’s power and victory over Ai. In 8:19 the focus is on the signal to the soldiers, but 8:26 shows that the outstretched arm is also a symbol of God’s victory.

8:19a

and as soon as he did so: When Joshua stretched out his hand with the lance, it was a signal to the troops to attack. Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

When the Israelites who were in ambush saw this (New Century Version)
-or-
As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly (New International Version)
-or-
as soon as he lifted his hand, the men who had been hiding got up quickly (Good News Translation)

8:19b

the men in ambush rose quickly from their position: This clause indicates that the soldiers who were hiding got up from their hiding places. They knew that the time had come to attack the town.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the men who had been hiding got up quickly (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 8:19a-b

In some languages it is more natural to change the order of 19a and b to reflect the order in the original language. For example:

19b The soldiers rose quickly from where they were hiding 19a as soon as Joshua stretched out his hand

8:19c

They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it: The soldiers ran through the open gates and captured the town.

8:19d

and immediately set it on fire: The soldiers quickly set fire to the houses and other things in the town.

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